FA Cup: Chelsea

In great form, the Skyblues led by Rayan Cherki will face a struggling Chelsea this Saturday at Wembley in the FA Cup final.

The FA Cup final on Saturday (4:00 pm) holds more significance for Chelsea and Manchester City than just a title: it could be a turning point for the Blues after a disappointing season, or a big boost for City in the midst of a tight race in the Premier League.

Both Wembley rivals stumbled at the final hurdle in their recent Cup appearances, with Manchester City falling short in 2024 and 2025, and Chelsea experiencing three consecutive disappointments in 2020, 2021, and 2022. So, there is a score to settle in the oldest club competition in the world, as well as a prestigious trophy to lift.

“There is enthusiasm, for sure. I hope that we can do better than the last two times,” commented Pep Guardiola on Friday, Manchester City’s coach. “These are new players and it’s in the past. It’s a new match against Chelsea. We are in the final and we have to try to win the trophy.”

The 55-year-old Spaniard is aiming for his 20th title with Manchester City at Wembley, a stadium he knows well. He has been there 23 times in the past decade for FA Cup semi-finals and finals, EFL Cup, and Community Shield matches, with a record of 15 wins and 8 losses.

Europa League at Stake for the Blues

On the other side, Chelsea’s coach Calum McFarlane lacks experience and positive results compared to Guardiola. The Chelsea team arrives at Wembley with low morale, coming off six defeats and a draw that dropped them to ninth place in the league, far from Champions League qualification spots.

Winning the FA Cup for the first time since 2018 would enable Chelsea to compete in the Europa League next season, a spot not currently guaranteed based on their Premier League position.

Meanwhile, Manchester City is focused on the league title race, hoping to overtake Arsenal, the current leaders by two points.

Against Palace, Guardiola rested key players, giving opportunities to other squad members who responded well, including goal scorers Omar Marmoush and Savinho, as well as the dynamic Phil Foden.

“It’s an exceptional team, with exceptional coach and players, so it will be a challenge. But we also have very good players, and these players have shown that at their best, they can beat anyone,” noted McFarlane. The 40-year-old English coach hopes to have injured players Pedro Neto, Alejandro Garnacho, and Robert Sanchez back for the final after missing the previous weekend’s match against Liverpool (1-1).